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9 Super Series 6- to 8-Year-Olds Are Buzzing About

by Kari Ness Riedel

Photo credit: Westend61/Getty Images

When you ask a kid what kind of books they read, you can see the beam of pride when they answer “chapter books.” They’ve graduated from “leveled readers” and have a whole new world of mystery, humor, adventure, and friendship stories open to them.

This transition, which often happens between the ages of six and eight, is an important point in a child’s independent reading life. Making sure they pick books that allow them to experience reading as a pleasure, not a chore, is essential. Series abound for this age group and getting hooked on one good book in a series can lead to hours, days, and even weeks of fully engaged reading awesomeness.

This series centers on a charming, buttered toast loving pig, Mercy, and her human owners Mr. & Mrs. Watson. Silly escapades and good-natured characters make this wildly appealing for kids and parents. As Michelle, 8, says, “Try these books if you want a good laugh.” Leana, 7, adds, “The Mercy books are so good, I can’t wait to read them all.”

Kids love the unexpected adventures of a mild-mannered mouse journalist, Geronimo, and his sister Thea. Written in a highly illustrated style that is super engaging to kids and great for helping them learn new vocabulary. Zoe, 7, says, “I love the excitement and action. I would suggest these books to everyone.”

Kids adore this series about a boy and his pet fly. The best part for Josh, 6, is “the friendship between Buzz and Fly Guy.” Slapstick humor and silly illustrations make this popular series perfect for emerging readers. New books in the series cross over to the nonfiction genre where Fly Guy introduces cool facts about things like dinosaurs and sharks.

Emma, 8, says, “This is a really good book if you love to get into trouble, love playing with your friends, and love making new creations.” Ivy and Bean are the dynamic friend duo who prove that opposites attract. Kids are drawn to the adventures and mysteries that take place whenever these girls get together.

“This book has amazing facts. Did you know that there was a Chinese soup with bird nests in it?” says Joshua, 8. Young readers go crazy for these wacky fact books. The information is so entertaining that they don’t know they are learning something. Great for both reluctant and enthusiastic readers.

Meet Lulu, a pushy, spoiled yet lovable little girl who throws a four-day tantrum to get a brontosaurus for her birthday. Lulu’s surprising adventures totally engage young readers and keep them laughing and guessing as to what will happen next. As Luke, 8, says, “Lulu is a pain but these books are awesome.”

A time-traveling golden retriever, need I say more? This is a new series that follows Ranger, a retriever who can’t sit still and finds himself unexpectedly traveling back in time to historic places. Kristina, a third-grade teacher, sums it up well: “For those that like history, this is a great read.” Kids unwittingly learn a ton about the places Ranger goes like the Oregon Trail and Ancient Rome.

The perfect book for animal lovers, as noted by Ella, 8. “I love dogs and I loooooved these books.” This new series relates the tales of a group of charming kids who find homes for animals in need. There’s a heartwarming feel to these books that is highly appealing to kids and adults.